Espanyol "categorically" deny Kiko Casilla to Real Madrid rumours

Espanyol president Joan Collet has revealed that he was stunned to read speculation linking goalkeeper Kiko Casilla with a move to Real Madrid this summer.

Speculation is rife that Real are poised to finalise a £1.5m deal for the 28-year-old in the coming days, but Collet has "categorically" denied that a switch is in the pipeline.

"There's nothing there. I'm surprised," he told Marca. "I haven't negotiated with anyone. Neither with representatives, nor with the player.

"I don't know where the figure comes from. I don't know if something will come up tomorrow, although I doubt it. There won't be anything if we're speaking about those figures.

"Everything that's being said is false. I categorically deny it. We haven't even sat down to negotiate."

Casilla has kept 38 clean sheets in 115 games for the club following his move from Real Madrid in 2007.

The stopper, whose contract expires in 2018, never made a senior appearance for the Blancos, often turning out for Real Madrid B and C.